Ford Puma is a small SUV that’s as much a tall hatchback as a would-be off-road vehicle. This type of vehicle is becoming ever more popular because of the extra interior space, also due to older folks being able to get in and out of the higher seating position.
Puma is powered by a 1.0-litre EcoBoost turbo-petrol three-cylinder engine that produces up to 92kW and 170Nm.
Power is sent to the front wheels by way of a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic. There’s no AWD version.
The base Puma rides on 17-inch alloy wheels. It has LED headlights, a chromed grille, black window surrounds.
It has an 8.0-inch touchscreen Sync3 multimedia system, satellite navigation, remote smartphone connectivity, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support, a seven-speaker sound system, digital radio, Bluetooth connectivity, two USB ports, wireless smartphone charging, cloth trim and a leather-trimmed steering wheel.
Puma ST-Line has sports suspension, a matte-black mesh grille insert, side skirts, body-colour wheelarches, and a larger rear spoiler.
There’s a 12.3-inch digital instruments, sports seats, Race Red stitching, a flat-bottom steering wheel with paddle-shifters and metallic pedals.
Puma ST-Line V has 18-inch alloys, chromed exterior trim, darkened rear glass, a hands-free power-operated tailgate and keyless entry.
There’s a leather-accented upholstery and grey stitching. Entertainment comes from a 10-speaker B&O Play sound system.
Ford Puma has host of high-tech safety features: autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane-keep assist, traffic sign recognition, inattentive driver warning, tyre pressure monitoring, a reversing camera and rear parking sensors.
Ford Australia did a virtual reveal of the Puma so we haven’t had a chance to see one in the metal. As soon as we do we’ll provide our comprehensive drive report.
MODEL RANGE
Puma: $31,990 drive-away
ST-Line: $33,990 drive-away
ST-Line V: $36,990 drive-away
